More Links

Road Warrior Rochester Takes Momentum into NLL Playoffs

from press release

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Rochester Knighthawks tied
their franchise record with their sixth road win of the season in
the 15-9 win over the Buffalo Bandits tonight at HSBC Arena. The
contest will be televised nationally on VERSUS on Sunday, May 24 at
4 p.m.

Rochester improved to 10-6 and won its fourth straight road win
of the season. The game was the third and final meeting between the
two teams with the Bandits winning the previous two engagements.
Rochester now leads the regular season all-time series with a
record of 25-17. The game was also the 50th overall meeting between
the two Western NY rivals.

Matt Vinc made 37 saves to lead the league in saves for the
third straight season, equaling the mark set by Steve Dietrich from
1995-97 with the Knighthawks. The game was also memorable for
Jarrett Davis, who scored his first pro hat trick, and Troy
Bonterre, who scored his first pro goal in his 77th pro game.
Rochester also got seven-point nights from Cody Jamieson (3+4) and
Shawn Williams (2+5). Jamieson ended the season with 53 points to
win the rookie scoring race by one point over Curtis Dickson.

For Buffalo, goalie Angus Goodleaf was pulled early in the first
quarter after he gave up four goals on eight shots. Mike Thompson
replaced him in net and saved 30 on 41 shots. John Tavares (2+4)
and Brenden Thenhaus (3+1) were the leading offensive factors.
Rochester blitzed the Bandits with six straight goals to open the
contest 6-0 and led 7-1 after one. Buffalo closed the gap to
8-5.

The third quarter was played fairly even as Rochester posted
three out of the five goals while Buffalo posted two. Chad Culp
scored to make it 8-6 Rochester with a sidearm shot that went short
side on Vinc, but the Knighthawks answered with goals by Jamieson
and Jordan Hall as they increased their lead to four. Mark
Steenhuis scored on an overhand shot over the right shoulder of
Vinc to make the score 10-7 Rochester. Davis scored a hat trick for
the final goal of the third quarter as he scored on a beautiful
high to low bounce shot. At the end of the third Rochester lead
Buffalo 11-7.

In the fourth Rochester held strong as they scored four of the
six goals. Thenhaus scored a hat trick goal at 3:04 on a low to
high bounce shot, but goals by Jamieson and Kevin Fines stole any
momentum Buffalo might have gained. A goal by Tavares which
decreased their deficit to four was not enough to spark a comeback
late in the fourth as Bonterre and Mike Accursi added two late
goals to make the final 15-9 Rochester.

The Knighthawks will open the Champion's Cup Playoffs on Sunday,
May 1st against the Toronto Rock. The 3:30 p.m. contest at the Air
Canada Centre marks the seventh time these two longtime combatants
have met in the postseason. The Rock own a 4-2 record against
Rochester and are perfect in Toronto with a 3-0 mark. The
Knighthawks, however, won the last meeting on April 20, 2007 en
route to their second championship.